Official Press releases and photographs from Disney and Florida Attractions

D23 Celebrates Epcot's 30th Anniversary

More than 1,000 Epcot enthusiasts, members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, gathered at Epcot's World Showcase on Sunday, September 30, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the theme park, which first opened on October 1, 1982. A day of special panels and presentations, all created by D23, marked the anniversary.

Panelists of the “We Can Do It” presentation (above) included (left to right) Disney Legend, original Tom Sawyer on Tom Sawyer Island, and former manager of distribution services at Walt Disney World Tom Nabbe; Disney Legend and executive vice president of Parks, Walt Disney World Bob Matheison; Disney Legend and former vice president of the Magic Kingdom Bill Sullivan; former Walt Disney World vice president of purchasing and contract services Howard Roland; Disney author and Imagineer Jason Surrell; former president of Disney Participant Relations Jim McCaskill; former director of Walt Disney World Casting Duncan Dickson; and Disney Legend Charlie Ridgway, who helped launch the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971 and EPCOT Center in 1982, among other Disney theme parks around the world.